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Xen Development Roadmap. Keir Fraser / Ian Pratt. Outline. Development model Removing Linux sparse tree Target systems ABI Stability Previous roadmap scorecard New Roadmap. Development Model. Aim: stabilize “unstable” tree every ~10 wks Sweep unstable into 3.0.x-testing
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Xen Development Roadmap Keir Fraser / Ian Pratt
Outline • Development model • Removing Linux sparse tree • Target systems • ABI Stability • Previous roadmap scorecard • New Roadmap
Development Model • Aim: stabilize “unstable” tree every ~10 wks • Sweep unstable into 3.0.x-testing • Release as 3.0.1, 3.0.2 etc • But, often a couple of key features • (3.0.5 XenAPI and HVM live relocation) • Bug fixes cherry picked into 3.0.x-testing at least until next release • After being in unstable for a few days, requests to push into 3.0.x-testing • Release as 3.0.x-y etc.
Linux trees • Linux ‘sparse tree’ removed from xen-unstable post 3.0.5 • Makefile support for building external Linux trees • Linux 2.6.18 • Linux last release • Linux tip • Natural progression to paravirt_ops • Dom0 support
Target systems • 1-4 socket systems are the priority • Performance and scalability work • Optimizations for bigger systems must not hurt smaller ones (they often help) • Onus is on submitter to demonstrate • (Patches that clearly hurt larger systems should be rejected too) • Good performance tools now available • s/w perf counters, xen oprofile, xentrace etc
API/ABI stability • Guest ABIs are stable (hypercall, IO) • Backward guaranteed by Xen: • Old 3.0 guests must run on new xen • Forward compatibility provided by guest • E.g. Linux build option (default on) • Privileged domain hypercall API • Dom0 kernel ABI stable • Tools hypercall API still evolving • Xen API control protocol and CLI syntax • Version 1.0 in 3.0.5. • XML-RPC with language bindings for C and Python
Xen Roadmap Scorecard • Last roadmap published July 2006 • 4 priorities listed: • 1. end Q3 2006 • 2. end Q4 2006 • 3. end Q1 2007 • 4. beyond…
Roadmap Themes • Performance and scalability enhancements • Client features (laptop/desktop) • I/O improvements • HVM enhancements • Control APIs • Security
Performance optimizations • Ongoing profiling and optimization • MSI Support • Scheduler measurement and tuning • Wakeup latencies • Load balancing • Locking granularity • Remove domain lock from hot paths • Super page support • Need per-guest accounting
Client features • Power management • CPU Frequency and voltage scaling • Xen hibernate and suspend to RAM • IOMMUs • Device passthrough for HVM guests • Graphics virtualization • Paravirtual framebuffer • Direct3D, OpenGL virtualization
HVM features • Virtual ACPI S3 support • suspend to RAM • Stub domains • Better scalability for I/O emulation • Minimal Linux integrated tightly with qemu-dm • Extend and use x86_emulate • For real-mode emulation on VT-x • To replace the ad-hoc mmio decoder • SCSI boot BIOS support
I/O Enhancements • PV removable media support • NetChannel2 protocol • Support for Smart NICs • SCSI front/back • CD, tape etc. • XenSocket stream transport • USB front/back
Control APIs • XenAPI extensions • ACM/XSM management • Enhanced storage management • Live relocation interlocks • Improved log management • Continue CIM provider implementation • Track DMTF standard
Security • Guest interface fuzzing tools • Dom0 disaggregation • Reduce size of TCB by moving privileged operations into isolated VMs • Driver domains • Bulk of dom0 becomes deprivileged • Mandatory access control • ACM and XSM • Fine-grained hierarchical delegation
Roadmap • Need to incorporate information from summit and prepare a new Roadmap document to go on the wiki • Live document • Link through to project update pages on wiki
Thanks to IBM! • Many thanks to IBM for a great venue, and for LTC/Corporate sponsorship • Jennifer Hall - local arrangements • Mike Day • Warren Grunbok II • Ray Valdez • Reiner Sailer • Ron Perez - WiFi • Hollace Goodman - badges • Terri Reinhart and Aimee Francioni from XenSource
Next Xen events • Social event at Ottawa Linux Symposium in July • Proposal for XenSummit in Cambridge in September, or possibly West Coast US later in October
BOF schedule • IA64 • Source tree organization